Dale Jr. wins most popular driver

joeguy · 12-03-2004, 05:47 PM

Dale Earnhardt Jr. poses with his Most Popular Driver award. Credit: Autostock
Earnhardt Jr. wins Most Popular Driver award, again
From Press Release
December 3, 2004
01:41 PM EST (18:41 GMT)

NEW YORK -- For the second straight year, fans voted Dale Earnhardt Jr. the Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver. The announcement was made Friday during the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

Earnhardt Jr. becomes just the fifth driver in the award's history to have won in consecutive years, joining Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Bill Elliott and Darrell Waltrip. A year ago, his selection by race fans made Earnhardt Jr. and his father, Dale Earnhardt, the only father-son combination to have won NASCAR's oldest off-track honor.

"It was fun to win it last year, but to get two in a row really means a lot to me," said Earnhardt Jr. "I've learned this year about how loyal and supportive my fans are. My team had our best season ever, but we also had a lot of trouble along the way, including my injuries.

"I used to worry about losing my fans after a bad race or two, but I found out this year the fans really got behind me when I needed it the most. It's a big compliment to have that many fans voting for me and letting me know they're supportive and loyal no matter what."

Earnhardt Jr. has led the voting since the start of the 2004 season, and easily captured enough votes in the record-setting 2004 year to again win the award. He finished with 1,487,512 votes, which exceeds the combined vote totals of the following six drivers.

"Dale Jr. is obviously a fan favorite, and this just confirms that," said Kenny Bruce, president of the National Motorsports Press Association. "All of the drivers in NASCAR racing have fans who support them wholeheartedly, and I think it's great what the Earnhardt fans have done. We are grateful to all of the NASCAR fans who were part of the voting process, and we feel they made a good choice."

Following Earnhardt Jr. in the 2004 Most Popular Driver Award final standings were drivers Jeff Gordon (496,362) and Kevin Harvick (249,228), who finished second and third respectively.

Rounding out the top 10 in descending order of votes were Michael Waltrip (225,011), Tony Stewart (185,486), Kasey Kahne (178,280), Dale Jarrett (127,423), Mark Martin (98,461), Jimmie Johnson (92,828) and Bobby Labonte (80,680). More than 40 drivers received votes.

NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1956. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and grew to incorporate all NASCAR Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it is a prestigious award voted on by racing fans nationwide.

Through the years, the voters' choices have ranged from the obvious to the surprising. Bill Elliott won the award 16 times before retiring his name from the Most Popular Driver Award voting at the beginning of the 2003 season. Richard Petty won the award nine times.

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Unklescott · 12-03-2004, 08:30 PM

What a surprise this is. I expected Kurt Busch to win it.

mozzz · 12-03-2004, 09:11 PM

Quote:

He finished with 1,487,512 votes, which exceeds the combined vote totals of the following six drivers.

Ouch!

And Kurt Busch wasn't even in the top ten? hmmm That can't be right, hehe.

HC_Lawson · 12-07-2004, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mozzz

Ouch!

And Kurt Busch wasn't even in the top ten? hmmm That can't be right, hehe.

It seems that drivers who talk like city slickers are the least popular in NASCAR.

12-03-2004, 05:47 PM	#1
joeguy FORT Fogey Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: just above the horizon, but below the ozone Posts: 3,748	Dale Jr. wins most popular driver jr. wins most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. poses with his Most Popular Driver award. Credit: Autostock Earnhardt Jr. wins Most Popular Driver award, again From Press Release December 3, 2004 01:41 PM EST (18:41 GMT) NEW YORK -- For the second straight year, fans voted Dale Earnhardt Jr. the Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver. The announcement was made Friday during the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Earnhardt Jr. becomes just the fifth driver in the award's history to have won in consecutive years, joining Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Bill Elliott and Darrell Waltrip. A year ago, his selection by race fans made Earnhardt Jr. and his father, Dale Earnhardt, the only father-son combination to have won NASCAR's oldest off-track honor. "It was fun to win it last year, but to get two in a row really means a lot to me," said Earnhardt Jr. "I've learned this year about how loyal and supportive my fans are. My team had our best season ever, but we also had a lot of trouble along the way, including my injuries. "I used to worry about losing my fans after a bad race or two, but I found out this year the fans really got behind me when I needed it the most. It's a big compliment to have that many fans voting for me and letting me know they're supportive and loyal no matter what." Earnhardt Jr. has led the voting since the start of the 2004 season, and easily captured enough votes in the record-setting 2004 year to again win the award. He finished with 1,487,512 votes, which exceeds the combined vote totals of the following six drivers. "Dale Jr. is obviously a fan favorite, and this just confirms that," said Kenny Bruce, president of the National Motorsports Press Association. "All of the drivers in NASCAR racing have fans who support them wholeheartedly, and I think it's great what the Earnhardt fans have done. We are grateful to all of the NASCAR fans who were part of the voting process, and we feel they made a good choice." Following Earnhardt Jr. in the 2004 Most Popular Driver Award final standings were drivers Jeff Gordon (496,362) and Kevin Harvick (249,228), who finished second and third respectively. Rounding out the top 10 in descending order of votes were Michael Waltrip (225,011), Tony Stewart (185,486), Kasey Kahne (178,280), Dale Jarrett (127,423), Mark Martin (98,461), Jimmie Johnson (92,828) and Bobby Labonte (80,680). More than 40 drivers received votes. NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award dates back to 1956. It began as a simple poll of the drivers and grew to incorporate all NASCAR Cup competitors. Later, it included all NASCAR members. Today, it is a prestigious award voted on by racing fans nationwide. Through the years, the voters' choices have ranged from the obvious to the surprising. Bill Elliott won the award 16 times before retiring his name from the Most Popular Driver Award voting at the beginning of the 2003 season. Richard Petty won the award nine times.

12-03-2004, 08:30 PM	#2
Unklescott Alice's Restaurant Join Date: May 2003 Location: On the group W bench Posts: 20,429	What a surprise this is. I expected Kurt Busch to win it. __________________ "I mean I'm sittin here on the Group W bench 'cause you want to know if I'm moral enough to join the army, burn women, kids, houses and villages after bein' a litterbug." Alice's Restaurant By Arlo Guthrie